An $8-million, three-year study to assess the water quality of lakes, ponds and reservoirs across the country will begin next summer. The project, announced earlier this month, is a joint effort of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, states and some American Indian tribes. Samples will be taken from 909 bodies of water, at least 10 acres in size and 39 in. deep and will be analyzed for chemical qual-ity, turbidity, color, and pathogens. EPA aims to develop better water management policies by determining ecology of lakes and developing baseline information to evaluate progress. Contracts for the environmental testing work will be let next spring.